THERE are now 28,004 people on the public in patient hospital waiting list, the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, said. This represents a reduction of 12,126, or 30 per cent, on the 40,130 on the waiting list in June 1993.

The Minister was replying to a written question from the Fianna Fail spokeswoman on health, Mrs Maire Geoghegan Quinn.